Anchor



Oct. 29, 1968 D. 1.. NEWTON 3,407,776

ANCHOR Filed June 5. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIIII/I, FIG

28 INVENTOR. DON L. NEWTON F |G. 3 BY ATTORNEYS Oct. 29, 1968 D. L. NEWTON 3,407,776

ANCHOR Filed June 5. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. DON L. NEWTON BYW ATTORNEYS WJJZJM United States Patent 3,407,776 ANCHOR Don L. Newton, Oakland, Calif., assignor to West Coast Wire Rope & Rigging, Inc., Oakland, Calif, a corporation of California Filed June 5, 1967, Ser. No. 643,545 Claims. (Cl. 114-208) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An anchor of the type having a pair of attached flukes rotatably mounted on the after end of a shank wherein an improved crown coupled to the flukes and pivoted on the shank has surfaces which cooperate to impede the forward travel of the anchor and allow the crown to rotate through a relatively long distance relative to the shank.

This invention relates to improvements in anchors of the twin fluke type and, more particularly, to such an anchor having an improved crown.

Anchors of the above-mentioned type are constructed with the flukes thereof rigid to the sides of a crown, the latter being pivotally connected to one end of a shank whose other end is connected to a tow chain or the like. The purpose of the crown, in addition to pivotally mounting the flukes on the shank, is to assure that the flukes are moved into and maintained in their operative positions pointed toward and inclined relative to the ground as the anchor is being urged forwardly by the tow chain after being dropped in the water. The engagement of the ground by the crown causes a torque to be developed on the flukes due to the retarding action of the ground on the crown. Continued forward movement of the anchor serves to urge the flukes further into the ground until relatively solid earth is encountered, whereupon the downward movement of the flukes ceases and the anchor is then able to prevent further forward movement of the tow chain.

It has been found that the efiiciency by which such a crown can pivot the flukes into operative positions can be enhanced if the crown is constructed with surfaces which are located to increase the aforesaid retarding action. Thus, the flukes will be more rapidly urged into the ground than is capable with crown structure of conventional anchors. To this end, the crown of this invention has a pair of crosspieces at opposed sides of the ends of the crown, with each crosspiece having a laterally extending, forwardly facing surface terminating at an outer, ground-engaging edge. When such edge engages the ground, the forwardly facing surface retards the forward movement of the crown to cause it to pivot on the shank in a direction to force the flukes into the ground. When this occurs, the inner surface of the corresponding crosspiece moves into a position at which it is effectively forwardly facing, whereby it augments the retarding action of the first-mentioned surface. Thus, the flukes quickly penetrate the ground with minimum movement of the anchor along the ground.

Certain of the aforesaid surfaces, namely, the inner surfaces of the crosspieces, have a dual function in that they serve as stops for limiting the travel of the crown relative to the shank. By placing the crosspieces essentially at the rear end of the crown, the inner surfaces of the crosspieces can be separated by a relatively large angular distance. Thus, the fiukes, as they penetrate the ground, can be at a greater angle with respect to the shank than has heretofore been capable so that the flukes penetrate the ground at a steeper angle and thereby at a faster rate. Moreover, the flukes themselves contribute to the retarding of the crown and they operate sooner for this purpose because of such steeper angle.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved anchor of the twin fluke type wherein the crown of the anchor is provided with surface means for retarding the forward movement of the crown after it has engaged the ground so that the flukes will quickly move into their operative positions for minimum forward travel of the anchor.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved crown for an anchor of the type described wherein the crown has a pair of forwardly facing surfaces which cooperate with each other to assure that a retarding force is exerted on the crown as the latter rotates the flukes into their operative positiOns, whereby the flukes penetrate the ground at a faster rate than has been capable with conventional crown structure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a crown of the aforesaid character wherein the inner surfaces of a pair of spaced, angularly disposed crosspieces interconnecting the sides of the crown are disposed in the path of movement of the shank and become forwardly facing as the crown is pivoted relative to the shank, so that the crosspieces not only serve as stops to limit the movement of the crown relative to the shank but also provide additional surface area to enhance the aforesaid retarding force exerted on the crown.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a crown for an anchor of the type described wherein the crown has crosspieces interconnecting the sides of the crown and separated by a relatively long arcuate distance so that the crosspieces, in serving as the stops to limit the pivotal movement of the shank relative to the crown, will allow the shank to move along a long path, thus permitting the flukes to penetrate the ground at a steeper angle.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings for an illustration of a. preferred embodiment of the anchor.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the anchor;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the anchor;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken. along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view of the anchor looking in the direction of line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are side elevational views, partly in section, showing sequentially the way in which the flukes of the anchor penetrate the ground.

The anchor of this invention is broadly denoted by the numeral 10 and includes a crown 12 having a pair of flukes 14 rigid to the side walls 16 thereof, a shank 18 having its rear end 20 disposed between side walls 16 and a stock 22 extending through crown 12 and shank 20 and being pivotally mounted with respect thereto. Shank 18 has a shackle 24 at the forward end thereof to which may be attached a tow chain for pulling the anchor forwardly. Anchor 10 is of the type known as a twin fluke anchor wherein the flukes 14 penetrate the ground as crown 12 rotates on stock 22 and as shank 18 is pulled forwardly by the tow chain attached thereto. When the flukes penetrate solid ground, forward movement of the anchor ceases and the anchor is then effective to prevent further movement of the tow chain and thereby the vessel to which the tow chain is attached.

Each side wall 16 of crown 12 is substantially triangular in shape as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 with a respective fluke being rigid to and projecting forwardly from the forward end of the side wall. The side edges 24 of each side wall 16 are relatively convergent (as shown in FIG. 4) as the forward end of the latter is approached.

A pair of crosspieces 26 span the distance between and are rigidly connected to the inner surfaces of side walls 16. Crosspieces 26 are located at the rear end of the crown as shown in FIG. 4 and are spaced from a central crosspiece 28 to define a pair of openings 30 through the rear end of the crown. The passage of mud, silt, sand and the like proceeds rearwardly through the crown as the anchor is urged forwardly in a manner to be described.

Each crosspiece 26 has a fiat inner surface 32 which extends inwardly from the corresponding side edges 24 at an angle which, as shown in FIG. 4, is slightly greater than 90. A second surface 34 extends rearwardly from the forwardmost extremity 36 of surface 32 and terminates adjacent to a lateral projection 38 extending outwardly from the corresponding crosspiece 26 and disposed longitudinally thereof.

Projection 38 has a fiat surface 40 which also extends longitudinally of the corresponding crosspiece and is at an angle of approximately 90 with respect to the plane of the flukes, the latter being generally co-planar to each other. Surface 40 terminates at an outermost edge 42 which is disposed to engage the ground and position surface 40 to initiate the retarding force on crown 12 in a manner to be described.

Projection 38 has a convex rear surface 44 which extends rearwardly of edge 42 and merges with the rearmost surface 46 of the corresponding crosspiece 26.

Each side wall 16 has a pair of opposed extensions 48 along and projecting outwardly from respective side edges 24 thereof (FIGS. 1-3). Side edges 24 at one side of crown 12, the corresponding surface 34, and the outer surfaces of the corresponding extensions 48 define substantially flat U-shaped, generally forwardly-facing surface denoted by the numeral 50 and shown in FIG. 1. Surface 50 extends forwardly of and at an angle to surface 40 as shown in FIG. 4, such angle being in the range of 115 to 130 in the embodiment of the anchor illustrated in the drawings.

Inner surfaces 32 form an angle in the range of 50 to 60 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4. These surfaces serve as stops to limit the pivotal movement of crown 12 relative to shank 18 so that the shank is engageable in the manner shown in FIG. 4 With either of surfaces 32. Thus, flukes 14 can be positioned at an angle in the last mentioned range relative to the shank whereby the flukes may penetrate the ground at a steeper angle than is capable with conventional crown structure.

Each fluke 14 will be provided with an enlarged portion 52 adjacent to a relatively thinner portion 54. Portions 52 extend to the forward ends of respective flukes and provide the necessary strength therefor.

Stock 22 is rotatably coupled in any suitable manner to crown 12 and shank 18. To maintain the stock on these components, a first collar 56 is rigid to the stock (FIG. 3) adjacent to one side wall 16. A second collar 58 is secured by a part 60 to the stock adjacent to the other side wall 16.

In use, anchor is attached to one end of a tow chain 62 which is carried by a vessel with which the anchor is associated. When the anchor is dropped, it will come to rest generally in the manner shown in FIG. 6 with shank 18 extending along the ground and with edge 42 of one of the projections 38 engaging the ground. Generally, the anchor will descend with flukes 14 vertically disposed and when the crown engages the ground, the flukes will be rocked in the direction of the shank. To facilitate this, central crosspiece 28 has a convex outer surface as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Also the convex surface 44 of the corresponding projection 38 will further facilitate this rocking movement so that edge 42 will contact the ground immediately.

In this position, the corresponding surface 40 will be forwardly facing since it is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the flukes. As the tow chain moves forwardly due to drifting of the vessel, the shank is pulled forward, but surface 40 serves to retard the forward movement of the crown. Surface 50, since it is forwardly facing, contributes to this retarding action. A retarding force is therefore exerted on the crown causing it to pivot in a clockwise sense when viewing FIG. 6 so that the flukes, whose forward ends will initially be in engagement with the ground, will also be pivoted about stock 22 in a manner to penetrate the ground as shown in FIG. 7. Similarly, projection 38 will also penetrate the ground due to the lowering of the crown under-the-ground penetrating action of the flukes.

As the crown rotates in this manner, surfaces 40 and 50 becomes less and less a factor in retarding the forward movement of the crown but surface 32 of the lower crosspiece progressively moves into ground forward-facing relationship to the ground and therefore contributes to the retarding action even though the other surfaces become less effective for this purpose. When this occurs, the flukes will have penetrated to a sufficient depth into the ground so that they themselves contribute to the retarding force exerted on the crown, such retarding force tending to drive the fiukes further into the ground due to the pivotal action of the crown relative to stock 22.

The pivoting movement of the crown and thereby the flukes will continue until the inner surface 32 of the opposite crosspiece 26 engages the shank. When this occurs, the flukesare at a relatively steep angle with respect to the horizontal so that they penetrate the ground rapidly until they reach solid strata. When this occurs, the anchor will prevent further movement of the tow chain.

The anchor is removed from the ground in the usual way such as by lifting the shank while at the same time elevating the tow chain so that when the tow chain is substantially vertical, the flukes can be effectively lifted out of the ground and the anchor returned to the vessel.

Surfaces 32, 40 and 50 therefore provide improved means allowing the crown to pivot the flukes so that they more readily penetrate the ground than is capable with conventional equipment.

What is claimed:

1. An anchor comprising: a crown having a forward, open end and a rear end and provided with a pair of spaced, generally triangular side Walls and a pair of spaced crosspieces interconnecting the side walls adjacent to the rear end of the crown; a pair of generally coplanar flukes rigidly secured to respective side walls at the forward end of the crown and extending forwardly thereof; a shank having an extremity between said side walls and projecting generally outwardly and forwardly of the crown; a stock extending through said side walls and pivotally coupling the shank thereto to permit movement of the shank relative to said crown along an arcuate path extending between said crosspieces, each side wall having a pair of side edges converging toward each other as the forward end of the crown is approached, each crosspiece including a first, fiat inner surface extending inwardly from respective side edges of said side walls, a second inner surface extending rearwardly from the innermost extremity of said first surface, and an outer surface extending rearwardly from the outermost extremity of said first surface and longitudinally of respective side edges, there being a projection rigid to and extending laterally from each crosspiece, respectively, adjacent to the rearmost extremity of said outer surface thereof, said projection having a flat, generally forwardly facing surface and a convex rear surface, said surfaces of each projection being convergent to define an outermost, groundengaging edge extending longitudinally of the corresponding crosspiece, each projection having a length greater than the distance between said side walls with the projection extending transversely of and outwardly from said side walls in opposite directions, each projection being disposed to impede the forward movement of said crown and thereby said shank when the corresponding outermost edge engages the ground to thereby cause said crown to pivot relative to said shank in a direction to urge said flukes into the ground, said second inner surfaces of the crosspieces being spaced from said shank to define a pair of passages on opposite sides of the plane of the fiukes to allow foreign matter entering the crown at its forward end to pass through and rearwardly of said crown, said first inner surfaces at the crosspieces defining the ends of the arcuate path of travel of said shank and being disposed to direct foreign matter entering the crown into corresponding passages.

2. An anchor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first inner surface of each crosspiece forms an angle in the range of to with the plane of said fiukes.

3. An anchor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer surface of each crosspiece forms an angle in the range of to with said fiat surface of the adjacent projection.

4. An anchor as set forth in claim 1, wherein each side edge of the side walls has an extension rigid to and extending laterally and outwardly therefrom transversely of the plane of the corresponding side wall, the extensions, the corresponding side edges, and the adjacent outer surface of the crosspiece defining a flat, generally U-shaped, forwardly facing surface for providing an impeding action against forward movement of the crown when said outermost edge of the adjacent projection engages the ground.

5. In an anchor of the type having a pair of spaced, coplanar fiukes pivotally mounted on the rear end of a shank, the improvement comprising: a crown having a forward, open end and a rear end and provided with a pair of spaced generally triangular side walls and a pair of spaced crosspieces interconnecting the side walls adjacent to the rear end of the crown, said crown adapted to be pivotally coupled to one end of the shank when the latter is between said side walls, each side wall having a pair of side edges converging toward each other as the forward end of the crown is approached, each crosspiece including a first, flat inner surface extending inwardly from respective side edges of said side walls, a second inner surface extending rearwardly from the innermost extremity of said first surface, and an outer surface extending rearwardly from the outermost extremity of said first surface and longitudinally of respective side edges, there being a projection rigid to and extending laterally from each crosspiece, respectively, adjacent to the rearmost extremity of said outer surface thereof, said projection having a flat, generally forwardly facing surface and a convex rear surface, said surfaces of each projection being convergent to define an outermost, ground-engaging edge extending longitudinally of the corresponding crosspiece, each projection having a length greater than the distance between said side walls with the projection extending transversely of and outwardly from said side walls in opposite directions, each projection being disposed to impede the forward movement of said crown and thereby said shank when the latter is coupled to the crown and as the corresponding outermost edge engages the ground to thereby cause said crown to pivot relative to said shank in a direction to urge said fiukes into the ground, said second inner surfaces of the crosspieces being spaced from said shank when the latter is coupled to the crown to define a passage permitting foreign matter entering the crown at its forward end to pass through and rearwardly of said crown, said first inner surfaces of the crosspieces defining the ends of the arcuate path of travel of said shank and being disposed to direct foreign matter entering the crown into said passage.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 675,552 6/1901 Bickley 114208 697,300 4/1902 Watson 114-208 2,677,343 5/ 1954 Shipley 114 208 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

TRYGVE M. BLIX. Assistant Examiner. 

